IPONZ Apply for a GI Geographical Indication : Intellectual Property Office New Zealand

Organization : Intellectual Property Office
Facility : Apply for a GI Geographical Indication
Country : New Zealand
Website : https://www.iponz.govt.nz/about-ip/geographical-indications/apply/

IPONZ Apply for a GI

Both New Zealand and foreign GIs for wines and spirits can be registered in New Zealand. This guide outlines the application process.

Related : IPONZ Apply for a Design New Zealand : www.statusin.org/42563.html

Once a geographical indication (GI) application has been filed, the examination fee is non-refundable. We recommend preparing thoroughly before submitting an application.
Note : You don’t need to be an IPONZ registered user or have a RealMe login to apply to register a GI.

Who Can Apply

Any “interested person” can apply to register a GI. Typically this would be :
** a wine or spirits producer
** a wine or spirits trader
** an association of producers or traders.

If you’re considering applying to register a GI, it’s a good idea to contact your relevant industry organisation first. Their involvement is likely to streamline the process – plus they may have an application already underway.

What Can Be Registered

A GI relating to a wine or a spirit that originates in New Zealand, or overseas, can generally be registered, as long as :
** its use or registration is not likely to be offensive
** it’s not identical to :
i. a registered GI
ii. the customary name of a grape variety (eg, ‘Syrah’)

** it’s not identical or similar to a registered trade mark (see below)
** it’s not the common name in New Zealand for the goods it identifies (eg, ‘vodka’ for spirits)
** for a foreign GI, it remains in use or protected in its country of origin.

How To Apply

To apply for a New Zealand GI you need to complete the relevant details in the online application form. You will be asked to submit the geographical data demonstrating the boundary of the proposed GI and attach evidence documents to support your application.

Note : You don’t need to be an IPONZ registered user or have a RealMe login to apply to register a GI.

Prepare Geographical Data

The online application form requires you to upload a data file containing the geographical coordinates that define the boundary of the proposed GI. We recommend engaging an expert in the field of geographical information systems (GIS) to help you with this requirement.

If you prefer to create the data file yourself, you can use a GIS application, such as QGIS (free and open source). You will need to upload a single archive format file (acceptable formats are .zip, .rar, .7z, .tar.gz, and .tar.bz2).

How To Apply For a Foreign GI

To apply for a foreign GI you need to complete the relevant details in the online application form.
You will need to include :
** The name of the geographical indication.
** The language the name is in.
i. If in a language other than English or Maori, then an English translation of the name is required.
ii. If the name uses non-Latin characters, then a transliteration of the name is required.

** The country of origin in which the GI is protected.
** A statement that the GI is protected in its country of origin and has not fallen into disuse in that country.
** Whether the GI relates to a wine or a spirit.